SHARPSVILLE, PA. Cattron Group sells division to refocus on its subsidiary

THE VINDICATOR, YOUNGSTOWN
SHARPSVILLE, Pa. -- A Wheeling, W.Va., company that specializes in wireless communication has bought Cattron Communications.
Cattron Group, which is based in Sharpsville, said it is selling its communications division to Staley Communications so it can focus on its Cattron-Theimeg subsidiary, which sells industrial remote controls.
The sale follows a move by Jim Cattron, company founder, to sell his majority ownership in July to an investment group and Cattron senior managers.
A dozen of Cattron Group's 150 local workers are employed by Cattron Communications. Cattron Group employs 370 around the world.
Carol Lotzgeselle, a Staley spokeswoman, said the 12 Cattron Communications workers will remain in place. Staley is leasing the division's Sharpsville office and bought its Boardman office.
Mark Staley, president and chief executive of the Wheeling company, said the deal allows it to expand into the Mahoning Valley and western Pennsylvania.
Communications roots
Staley's company employs 80. It sells and services wireless communication products. The company is looking to expand with an office in Morgantown, W.Va., he said.
Cattron traces its roots to 1946 when Jim Cattron started Cattron Radio Communications Service as the first Motorola-authorized service station.
Cattron Communications' main products are two-way radio systems for police and fire departments, but it has expanded into closed-circuit television, pagers and wireless communication.